STORRS – If you think things looks bad for Uconn now, imagine if the Huskies' only experienced quarterback decided not to return next year?

The Huskies need Tim Boyle. Chandler Whitmer will have exhausted his eligibility. Casey Cochran has stepped away because of concussions, and the only scholarship quarterback the Huskies have coming in is Tyler Davis form Long Island. The also have transfer Bryant Shirreffs from N.C. State.

Boyle, however, has often been called the quarterback of the future by coach Bob Diaco.

And he has every intention on being that.

Boyle, a sophomore who won three state titles at Xavier-Middletown, says he isn't going anywhere.

"Not even a thought in my mind about leaving," he said Tuesday. "One hundred percent, I'm staying."

The stars are aligned for the big-armed 6-foot-4 Boyle to start next year, which is why he focuses on the big picture.

Boyle (14 of 26, 75 yards and two interceptions), has played in six games and is likely to play in the seventh Saturday when UConn (2-7, 1-4 AAC) hosts Cincinnati (6-3, 4-1) at Rentschler Field (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network).

He's been averaging about a series a game in hopes of getting into a rhythm. For the most part, those opportunities have been quick and uneventful yet, he said, valuable.

So Boyle is staying because?

"Because I've dedicated a lot of time and energy and passion to this program and I truly think Coach Diaco is the real deal and I think that we're actually, legitimately, going to go down a path of winning championships and I want to be a part of it. I trust him 100 percent and I trust the players on this team. I think we're going to go places."

And this from a guy who gets about three snaps a game, usually near halftime.

"It's tough trying to keep a positive attitude, but the way I see it is I get to wake up and play football and go to school for free," Boyle said. "I don't see anything negative with that. I see playing one series in a game a blessing that I've got to get some game experience. Obviously I'd like to be playing more as a competitor but I'm completely and 100 percent OK with the decision he's making because it's what's best for the team right now – and I can't be selfish in what I want to do. I have to understand what's best for the team. "

When asked how he will play Boyle down the stretch (the Huskies have three games remaining) Diaco said, "I think you look at the opponent and make a decision to figure how you can have one more point than your opponent and that's it. Look at all the positions and put them together so that you believe you can operate at a high level at the position."

If Boyle had been more productive in his opportunities it's likely he would stay on the field. Although the game didn't come down to the one play, Whitmer threw an interception at the Army 1 that was returned for a touchdown in the waning seconds when the Huskies were gunning to tie the score. That's why there was a surge in Whitmer/Boyle questions at the weekly press conference Tuesday, but Diaco said Whitmer would remain the starter, which is fine with Boyle. This is an on-the-job training opportunity he's getting.

"I can't worry about anything except doing what I can do to improve my game for this year," Boyle said. "Not even next year. Knock on wood but if Chandler goes down I'll have to be ready to play and be the full-time starter. Next year is far from my mind and thinking about Cincinnati is probably at the top of my list right now."

Boyle started the second game of his career at Cincinnati last year, a 41-16 loss. He threw for 310 yards and was intercepted three times.

Davis OK

Diaco said senior wide receiver Geremy Davis (lower leg) is ready to play. He's been out since the first half of the East Carolina game Oct. 23. The receivers have been solid in his absence with big contributions from Noel Thomas and Thomas Lucas as well as Dhameer Bradley and Deshon Foxx.

Johnson Holds On

Starting freshman tailback Ron Johnson has yet to fumble.

Three other tailbacks, Max DeLorenzo, Josh Marriner and Arkeel Newsome, also a freshman, have turned the ball over leading to scores.

Why has Johnson been so true?

"I don't know, just trying to be as careful as I can with the ball," Johnson said.

But…

"I fumble a lot in practice," Johnson said. "I do. It's like I gotta get it out now. At one point it was like twice a week. I fumbled two weeks ago. It's just one of those things where you're so focused on making sure you make the correct move on a defender and that once the play is over the defensive players are still going to try and punch the ball out but you're sprinting, then slowing down to make a move and they come out of nowhere – boom. I've done it in practice but I shouldn't do it at all. That's something I have to learn. I have a lot of time here. If I can go four years without fumbling the ball I'm all right."

Johnson is the Huskies' leading rusher with 228 yards on 60 carries and two touchdowns. ... Linebacker Marquise Vann, from Cincinnati, returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown last season at Cincinnati. Also, Davis set a career-high in receiving yards with 140 but he topped that with 207 in the finale against Memphis. He has one 100-yard receiving game this year (six catches, 113 yards, 1 TD vs. Stony Brook). Davis has 34 receptions for 436 yards and three TDs so far in 2014.